Joint structure



` Feb. 5;1946.

yc. 1 3. KRUPP lAJ/QINT SLUCTURE Filed Aug. 1 '1942 l [swb KRL/PP 6257 member 20 with respect to the peripheral opening 26'in the wall portion 24 in which opening is disposed the locking structure 2| and as a meansV for registering the suitV I2 and the ring structure |Il for the proper positioning of a slide fastener 21,Y and as a means for preventing rotatable movewith the wall I4', prevent leakage of fluid from Within the suit I2.

The wall portion I4 lof the suit i2 may be tailored in a manner to provide for pressing and mentrof the member 20 in the groove I6 during manipulation' of the Vtoggle 2 I.

U-shaped-earl elements 28 having transverse1 openings for pins 30 and 33 in the ends of the these results. Vin the'clamping ring 4| wherein the ring is made adjacent the closed end of a forked member 3| The Vopen end portions of the two i tines of the form 3| are connected pivotally to the other U-shaped element 28 by means of the `pin 33. An extension 34 of the forked member 3| serves as a handle for manipulation of the tog-v gle structure 2| to provide for expanding and coni tracting the member 20, asV well'as locking'uthe f latter to its smaller diameter.

Theconstruction of Figs. 2, "3, i and 6 includes means fordetachably securing the suit I2 tothe ring element I5 in a fluid-tight manner.

l wall of the body portion I4 may be provided withY a suitable fabric sheath 4|) adaptedy to encase a metal clamping ring or clamp-band 4|; and the i sheath'4llmay be sewed, or adhered, or both, to

the VWall AI4. The sheath encircles partially the i f body portion,v as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and6, in order to provide open space Vfor convenient 'positioning' and operation of a fastening and sealing strucg ture 42. Preferably,the band 4| and thersheath 40 are mounted adjacent the exterior side of the l wall I4 at the region of the circumferential groove The I9 of the ring I5. e

Y 'Ihe groove I9 is preferably trapezoidal in section. A ring member 43, likewise traperzoidal in section,` is made desirably of resilient rubber-like or othersuitable material,` preferably covered or otherwise suitably reinforced as by fabric, and adapted to seat, at least partially, as'shown in Fig.v 4, in the groove I9 whereby the oppositely 1 disposed and inwardly inclined faces of the member 43 are in contact with corresponding faces of 1 the groove to provide for asealing relation therewith. Furthermore, whenrthe clamping ring 4| l is in the locked'position, as shown in Fig. 3,V thev l wally I4 of the suit is pressed and held tightly l against the adjacent face of the resilient member l 43, and the latter member -43is wedged firmly e into the `groove I9, thereby assisting in securing l a peripheral fluid-tight seal between the wall I4 i and the ring structure I5.

wedging the divided ring member 43 in the groove I9 and to provide desirable sealing contact with the sealing element 44 when the slide fastener 2'! is in the closed position; butit is rpreferable to utiliz'ethe clamping ring 4| and itsv associated fastening and sealing meansV 42V for accomplishing Another modification may be made wide enoughto, apply positive pressure coincidentally upon the annular element .'43 and the sealing element 44. f

As shownespecially in Figs. 2, 3,` 6 and 7 the slide fastener 21 is desirably of a dual construction havinga pair of sealing naps 5D disposed between inner and outer closure aps 5|a and 5|b, the

iiaps 5|l and 5Ib extending upwardly beyond the upper face of the ring structure ID. However, the inner closure flaps 5| a extend only to the lower face of the ring elementA 5 in order to avoid bulkiness and to permit securing a tight seal o'f the ilaps 50 at the ring member 43 and thefsealing element 44. V 1 Y vIn the arrangement shown in the drawing, the

Y ends of the clamping ring 4| are interconnected by Vthefastening and sealing'structure 42,one

` end 52 lacing` movably secured tothe structure by a link 53 in the manner shown Fig. 6. while the other end terminates in a vlink 54 adapted' for For convenience in assembling the suit I2 with i the ring structure tu, it. is desirame that theV i member 43 be attached,V to the wall portion |4fat the interior side by a'n adhesive or other suitable fastening means, in which case `the ring member i 43 is'divided Vin the region of the margins of the' 1 slide fastener vvZV'I, as Ydisclosed in Fig. 6. With such an arrangement a fluidseal may be provided engagement with ahookiportion 5510i the structure42.` i

In the construction of theV fastening and sealing structure 42 a metal strip 56, or other suitable element, which mayhave an outwardly bulged portion 511 intermediate the ends thereof, has one end V58 bent over in engagementA with the link 53 to provide for swinging movement, Vwhile the other end 59 is equipped With a fitting 60 having transverse serrations 6I in the outer face and a threaded Opening therein. An element 62 having similarserrations in a face thereof and a slotted opening therein is attached adjustably' to the tting by a screw 63 engaging through theslotted opening with the threaded opening, the respective serrated faces being in contact with eachV other. H

A member 64, which is vU-shapedin section and which has one end forked at 65,-i's pivotally at-Y tached at the Yforked end to a bulbous endpportionf 66 of the element 62 by means of a pin 61 extend'- Y ing through transverse openings in thesaid ends of the member 64 andthe element 62. The memlber 64 is adapted to 'be in overlapping. relation'- y ship with the element 62. A 'forked member 68 having v.the hook endportion 55'is pivotally s'e- Y Qthe link` 54 thus clampinggth'e band 4l firmly against the Wall I4. andthe ring A'member 43.

'Grasping the end 13 of the ,member 64A nearest' the slide fastener` 2'IV and pulling outwardly releases ,the` clampingY ring,` 4.|1j.and f,astening Y means 42.

For facilitating the provision of .an'ieffective' fluid-tight seal atthe slide fastener Y2l'junction with` the Yring structure IIL' the bulged .portipnY 5,1 of the metal strip 56 may;have a suitablyV shaped'body 'I0 of reSiIientJubberY-like material disposed adjacent the inner surface thereof andi' asume vulcanized and=bonded to the-same.` The bodyfill has Ja central portion IH- YKprojecting :upwardly in the f direction fof @the sealing :element '44 to anleittet sufficient tofpe'rmitfthe portion TII to=overlie the 1elementf44. -In this -mannerfthefsealing naps I] of Lthe` slide fastener '21 -a'nd the'marg'insfdfthe wall @I4 are epressed positively against thellip sea-1s 45` of the element :44, land-also :the ymargins offt'h'e wall r'I4 are pressedrpositively againstthelmember 43; Jby virtue of which -eiective sealing is -ob tained.4 -Howeverg-"the 4'metal istrip "56 may *be shaped to Ifunction Lin like lmanner. Additionally, the Ipressure Awithin fthe suit presses the Aoverlapping `portions '-o'f fthe sealing ilaps .iIJ Vitogether against the backing support of the 'outerrclosure fiapsiS'Ib ,andthe body `I`II,-'whic'hjprovidesian ef; fec'tive fluid seal f*at the-space 2 4betweenit'heends of'the'iing member 4-3.

Theuse'and operation ofthe ringstructure i0 in combination with the suit vI 2 Yanditheheadp'i'ece II 'has the vadvantages 4of Ireliability, simplicity, and convenience 'plus` safety to "thewearer of the suit. A'The ring structure may be'attachedtothe body ,portion I4 after ithe wearerfhas donned the suit I'2,'and thisis neasilyaccomplished,especially when "the^^ring vmember '43 Avis carried by 'the 'wall portion" I 4 in the -manner hereinabove described. With the slide fastener'21 and rkthe"clampingring fastener vv42 inthe open '.position, the stud projection' 2 3 .ofthe 'ring Il 0 `isinseited 'through an. openingin the back yportion ofthe suit after which thering'member "43is disposed'in the [groove I9.

Then the inner closure flaps 5Ia offthe slide fastener 21 are 'closed adjacent'thelowerface of the ring TD, and afterfp'ositioning the sealing ii'aps 50 throughout their extent, the outer 'closure flaps such as'to promote 'their overlying relationship 5Ib Vare closed, including that portion extending adjacent and beyond .the ring structure 5H), .as shown in'Figs. 2 and?. The nal step Lin 'this phase of operation'is to place the fastening vand sealing means'42 in--contactfwith .the wall Lportion I4 and vto engage .the hook .55 vwith .the link 45.4

while manipulating .the toggle .members 6.4 .and

68 in a manner. like .that shownin Fig. '6. ',Thegextent of pressureexerted by thelclamping ring 4i, including the fastening .and sealing means 4.2, should be suiilcientto pressrmlythering vmember 4'3 `in contact YWitht'hesides of the .groove .IB and to press rmly the wallportion `(I4 and-slide fastener r2.1 in contact with .the member 43, VVas well as against the lip seal ,portions .thusa fluid-tight joint is assured. Longitudinally adjustingthe .iitting -fli and the element 62r with respect to each other permits securing the desired clamping pressure.

In order to complete the protection of the wearer of the suit, the headpiece II is slipped over the head of the wearer and the curved ilange portion I3 is seated in place against the lip-sealing ring 22 and is in contact with the inner face of the ring element I5, while the expansible-contractible member 20 is in the released position. Next the toggle locking structure 2I is placed in the closed position, as indicated in Fig. 5, Whereupon the member 2U moving inwardly in the groove I6 engages the flange portion I3 of the headpiece I I. In this way the headpiece is united detachably with the ring structure I5 in a fluidtight manner. The ensemble of the suit I2, the ring structure I0, and the headpiece II affords complete coverage and eiective protection of the wearer during night in the region of the stratosphere, when associated with means for supplying tures.

oxygen. and air runder pressure: sind piece m ay`=be removed conveniently iin timer-altitudgs. I y IVariationsmayie madelwi'thodt'departingimn the lscope of the invention' iit detlnedl'inithe following-claims. Y l l fi- Iffclaimz Y i. In an .inflatable i andi a -h'e'a'dpi'ece, means vor-fconnectingasaidiheadpiece to-said 'bodyFportionsaiwmeans'comprising alringstructurehaving anlinnerracefandanoutr face, ymeans '-fordetachably engaging sa'id ydreads; piece in afuid#tiglibmannenwithI-saidfringistruo# ture `-at one "of said "faeesjand means foridetachf ably engagingsaid bcdypor'tionin -a diu'idtight mannerat thefotherofsaidfraces. j i '2. In I"an :inflatable-snit ghaving -`a body Vportiftni andra headpi'ece, ajrlng ustructurejffor ij oiriingrsa'id headpiece to'said bodysportion, saidmeans prisingl-'a ring-structure 'havingan-inner face anjd aneouterfface, means 'fordetachably engaginglsaid headpiece inja uid-tig'lit`m-anner Jv vi'th said 'ring structure l at said 1'inner face, and "means dor *deitightmanner atsaid-outer face.

3. A" coupling v'for interconnecting 'Ja pairof hollow structures, said coupling v-coinrprising an jannular structure havingfan' inneriandianputer1` face and having a lcircumfereriti'ally'extending -depres'f tachably A'engaging hsaid body fportionr hin faj'fluidf sion in said inner ifa'ce, -means disposedinsaid depression for detachabiy 'engaging` orneof`l said hollow 'structures jwith* said Iannular structure, and means for-'detachably securing lthe pthersaid hollowfstructure to said out'eriaca u 4. A coupling "for"interconnectingaipair ofhfoi- 1ow-structures,"said coupling comprising fan an; nular structure `hewing an inner and van puter face andr having a `circumierentially extending depression 'in fsaid'outer face, meansiffor detachably 'securing 'one rof Asai-d 'hollow 'structurestto said `inner face, `and I'means -includingan element projecting ffrom i the Yother rsaid hollow. structure adapted to register` with and v'be 'disposed Ainsaitl depression land adapted vfor -detaohabiy securing the other said hollow structure to said outer fac-el 5. A-coupling for interconnecting'a pair'ofholf .low structures, said coupling comprising arran;

7. A connector for interconnecting a pair of f hollow structures adapted to contain a fluid, said yconnector comprising a ring structure having an inner and an outer face and having circumferential grooves in said faces, means disposed in a groove in said inner face for detachably engaging one of said hollow structures with said ring, means registering with and disposed in a groove in the outer face of the ring and detachably securing the other hollow structure to said ring structure, and sealing means including resilient elements interposed between said ring and the hollow struc- Y 18.,In an innatablesuit having abody portion and a-,headpiece -a.ring structure lfor joining said headpiece to said body portion, saidv ring structure lcomprisinga ring element-,having jan inner Yfaceand a circumferential depression in `said face, an expansible-contractible member. disposed in said depression `and adapted to engage` said i A headpiece-Vfor detachably securing said headpiece to said ring structure, V meansfor V,changing said member betweenexpanded and` contracted cogn-t ditim'rs. y1in-Sealing `means between ,Said'Y-rineele-l i V4ment-andsaid headpiecerand means for attaching Said .body portion ta'saidrneelement-f 9.1 InI mantiene amneville a, body't'ortion including a wallotnexiblematerial and havinga Y headpiece, a ring structurevfor joining said head-` pieoe'to [said bodyv portion,l said ringV structure *Y comprising a ring element above which said head` piece isoadaptedtoextend and having a circum- 3 ferential groove therein, and means for ,detach-v ably securing and sealing. th e wall'of` said body Yportion 'tov said ring', said means comprising arr l Y annularelementipf resilient material positionable Y, in said groove, and anexpansible-contractibie ele-` mentA for pressing the wallof said body portion and said annular elementtowardsaid groove,"

.10. In an iniiatable'suit havin'gea headpiece V anda bodyportionincluding a wall ofY flexible material,a ring structure lfor joiningsaid headother said groove and adapted to contact the wall of said body portion, an annular elementreceivable .fin .the trapezoidal groove, Y and a clamping i ring adaptedY to bind the wall of said body portion against said annular element and said sealing element, said clampingring havingmeans Vfor presssaid slide fastener against said sealing element.,Y Y, Y v Y y 11. In an inflatable suit having a headpiece and l Va body Aportion including-a Wall of flexible mate-I; l rial, a ring structure for joining said headpiece to ,said body portion, said body portion having a` Yslidefastener with sealing flaps inthe regiony of the ringg-.said ring structure. comprising a ring j element having an inner face and anouter face l and having: a pair of spaced-aparty ring grooves Y in each'of said faces, an annular element disposed in one of said" groovesin said inneriace and assenze y adaptedtodetachably engage said hedpece, a lip-sealing element seated iny the other groove of said inner face and having a portion incontact j with said headpiece, kone of said groovesfinsaid outer face being trapezoidal in section, a; ,ring member of resilient material being disposed in saidrgro'ove of trapezoidal section and being in' contact with the side walls of the same, a sealing ring disposed in the other said groove in the outer facey and:having multiple lip portions extending outwardly vfrom said outer face adapted to contact the wall of said body portion, and a clamping ring withfastening means adapted to detachably secure said body portion in contact with said ring member,l said clamping ring having a projecting portion of resilient rubber-like material adjacent saidslide .fastener whereby a VportionV ofV the vslide `fastener including its vsealing iaps is pressed Y against therlip portions ofsaid sealing ring Aand against said ring member. 1

12. A coupling for a hollow structure, said cou-y pling comprising a ring structure having a groove therein, and means for detachably locking said hollow 4structure with said ringl structure, Ysaid means-including a projecting locking element reg@r istering [with said groove, and said locking element section for wedging engagement.

13. A'coup'ling for a hollow structure, said'cou.. A plingcomprising a ring structure having a groove Y extending circumferentially,therein, and means for detachably lockingr vsaid hollow structure with i said ringstructure, said means including a locking element extending ciroumferentially andrregisteringwith rsaid groove, said locking element including resilient rubber-like material and said groove being generally trapezoidal in cross-section for Wedging engagement.

14.l In an inflatable suit having arbody portion Y y including a wall of flexible material and having a headpiece, a ring structure Yfor joining said headpiece to said body portion, said ring structure comprising a ring element for supporting said headpiece Vand having a circumferential groove generally V trapezoidal in cross-section therein, and means for Ydetachably securing and sealing the wall of said body portion to said ring element, said means comprising an annularrelementof'resilient material andv generallytrapezoidal in'crosssection positionable in'ysaid vgroove and an expansible-contractible Vvelement for pressing the wall of `said'loody portion and saidoannularV ele- Y ment toward said groove.

CARROLL P. KRUPP;

andgroove being generally trapezoidalin cross-V 1 

